Adjustable rack



June 29 12926.

L. KLE|N ET AL ADJUSTABLE nAcx Filed April 1S. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www@ June 29,1926. l A 1,590,296

L.. KLEIN ET AL ADJUSTABLE RACK Filed April 16. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 29, 1926.

mazet LoUIs .KLEIN ANnJUrrus rArKn, or ivronnnLY, ivrrssourtr.

ADJUSTABLE RACK.

Application filed April 16, 1924. Serial No. 7016,85?.

This invention relates to racks, and has as `an object the provision of a rack provided with a plurality oi' shelves, and having means to adjust the height of the shelves.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rack for use by bakers, and the like, where completed work is to be removed from an oven or a machine and placed on shelves of a rack.

By means ot the present invention, the height of the shelves may be adjusted so as to be readily accessible vwithout requiring the operator to stoop, or to litt the articles above the level or' their delivery.

Other objects will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing the illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section on the line 3-3, of Fig. 2, upon an enlarged scale;`

' Fig. 4. is fa perspective view of the rack with the shelves removed; and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of theV modification.

As shown, the device comprises :tourcorner posts 10, 11, 12 and 13 in the form of cylinders. To provide adj ustability of the rack, there is provided in each cylinder a piston .14 shown in Fig.l 3 as comprising separate disks provided with packingrings.

To support the frame 15 from which the` shelves 16 are suspended, there is shown the piston rod 17 secured to each piston and projecting through the cap 18 upon the upper end of the cylinders. As shown the caps 18 are Jrovided with annular inter-` nally screw t readed recesses 19 co-acting with externally screw threaded ends of the cylinders 10, 11, 12 and 13.

The ends of the piston rods 1T are shown as reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder 2O to receive the corner oi the frame 15, which are secured thereon by means of nuts 21.

To cushion the end of the upper stroke of the piston, there is shown a helical spring 22 abut-ting against the shoulder 23 carried by the piston rod 17. The lower end of each of the corner cylinders is shown as screw threaded and engaging an internally screw threaded annular casting 2l. The lower side of the casting V24, as shown in F ig. 3, is formed open, internally `screw threaded, and a plug 25 is provided to close the opening. To provide for movement of the rack upon the door a castor 26 is shown pivoted in the plug 25.

To cause movement of thepiston 14 and thereby of the` shelves 16, pipes 27, 28, 29 and 30 are shown screwed into communication with a passage 31 leading into each of the castings 2&1. The pipes mentioned each connect with a central litting 32 having a branch for each pipe, andfalso connections for fluid pressure supplying and exhausting pipes 33 and 34 in the 4rorm of the invention shown in F ig.` t. In this form of the invention, there is provided -a connec-` tion at 3,5 which may be placed into communication with a source of fluid, as air, under pressure. By admitting fluid pressure to the pipes 33, and 27, to 30, inclusive, equal pressure will be admitted to the cylinl'ers .10, 11, 12 and 13, thereby causing the pistons 11i to be forced upwardly in the cylinder, with the consequent adjustment oi' the height oi Vthe shelves.

To permit ofv the lowering ci the shelves there is shown an exhaust cock 36, by the `opening of which the attendant may allow pressure to escape whereupon the shelves are lowered by gravity. The connection 35 may be provided with a cock 36 and either cock may be used` as either intake or eX- haust.

To preserve the spacing and upright position of the cylinders 10, 11, 12 and, 13, there are shown horizontal tie rods 37, 35 secured at their ends to each of the cylinders as by means of lcap screws. As a convenient method ot fastening a handle whereby the rack may be pushed about, the ends el the tie rods 37, 38 are shown as pro; jecting and as carrying handles 39, 1-0.

Adjacent the lower end of 'each of the cylinders 10, 11, 12 and 13, there is shown an L iliwhich is so located as to open into the cylinder between the disk 14 of the piston when the rack is in its lowest pos`ition. Flachi.. is shown as closed by means of a screw plug ll2. l/Vhen the device is placed into operation, the screw plugs L12 are each removed and the space between the disks of the piston 111 is filled with a heavy lubricating oilwhereupon the plugs are returned.

Should it he necessary to remove one of the pistons, the saine may be readily ac-s ner if desir-ed may be connected to a source" complished by first removing the screw plug 42, turning the L downwardly to allow the oil to drain out, removing the plug 25, and thus gainingaccess to the pistons.

Upper disk 14 is shown as'carried by a square rod 48 having ascrew threaded stud 44 engaging a screw threaded opening in the piston rod 17, and at its opposite end a screw threaded socket 45. The lower disk is shown as carried by a pin having a screw kthreaded stud to engage the socket 45 and a flat sided head 46 adapted to be engaged by a wrench. By means of this structure the piston may be readily removed from the cylinder without disturbance of the general structure in case it is necessary to remove the packing rings from the pistons.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, a hand air pump Y4'? is shown as mounted upon a pair of rods 48, carried by the cylinders at one end of the device. The outlet of the pump is shown as connected by means of the pipe 49 to the fitting 32. In this form ofthe device an exhaust pipe 50 is shown as connected to one of the castings 20, whereby each of the cylinders will be exhausted through the pipe 27 connected with the casting 24 in questhon upon the opening ofthe kexhaust cock 36.

It will be seenthat the supply pipes 27',v

28, 29 and 30 serve as efficient braces for the frame comprising the cylinders 10, 11, 12 and 13. Y

`When the form of the device shown in Fig. 4 is used, a flexible means of'supply of fluid pressure to the fitting 35 may be used, or a quick detachable connection which may be connected when the rack is in position to be loaded, andwhich may be disconnected either beforeor'after the fluid pressure has been exhausted and the shelves brought to their lowest position.

rIhe form of Fig. 5 is adapted for free use since it carries with itself the means for supplying fluid under pressure at will.

The form of Fig.a 4 having a cock 36 at diagonally opposite corners, or at each corof fluid pressure by means of the connection at either corner and the shelves 1n empty condition may be raised to the limit. Thev cocks may then be closed and the supply disconnected, when the rack may be transferred to a point of filling. The flower shelves may be filled first, and by means of either cock 36 the rack shelves may be graduallyV lowered until all are filled when the v`departure from its spirit.

; What we claim is:

1. An adjustable rack comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders connected together to form a frame, means in said cylinders andl projecting therefrom to support a rack, pistonsin said cylinders adapted to operate said means, said pistons comprising spaced disks providing lubricant chambers therebetween, means to admit lubricating oil to the space between said disks and means to admit fluid pressure to said cylinders below the pistons and to exhaust fluid pressure therefrom at will.

2. An adjustable rack comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders, `closure caps at opposite ends of each cylinder, supply pipes radiating froin a central fitting and communicating with each cylinder through itslowervcap whereby to brace the frameand to admit fluid under pressure to the cylinders, means connected with said fitting to admit fluid under pressure to the cylinder, pistons in said cylinders adapted to be actuated by fluid under pressure, a rack supported upon said frame, and means actuated by saidpistons to adjust theiheightof said rack. Y f

3. An adjustable rack having in combination 1a rectangular frame, a cylinder at each corner thereof and forming an upright for said frame, a central fitting at the bottom of said frame, fluid pressure supply pipes connecting said fitting with each cylinder and serving to brace the frame, a rack mounted in said frame, pistons in said cylinder, means actuated by said pistons to adjust the height of said rack, and rollers under each cylinder to provide for ready movementof the rack and frame. I

4. An adjustable rack comprising, in combination, a; plurality of lcylinders adapted to receive fluid under pressure, means located adjacent the'bases thereof, holding said cylinders in spaced relation and constituting conduits for said fluid, pistons operable in said cylinders by the fluid under pressure,l a rack supported by said pistons, and means operable to permit exhaust of fluid pressure from said cylinders.

LOUIS KLEIN. JULIUS PAPKE 

